Results 2,741-2,760 of 3,649 for speaker:Michael Collins

Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services: Statements (31 Jan 2019)

Michael Collins: I am glad to have the opportunity to speak on this issue. We do not dedicate enough time to this very important issue, which is almost pushed under the carpet despite the serious issues that exist in our mental health services. The mental health service for children and adolescents falls short of what is needed and is failing young people and their families. We have got to a place where,...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (31 Jan 2019)

Michael Collins: In A Programme for a Partnership Government, the section on agriculture and the marine begins on page 112 and it goes on until page 124. Agriculture and the marine are in one Department with one Minister in charge of it. I am not being critical of the Minister but with Brexit coming, be it hard or soft, agriculture needs a strong, stand-alone Minister as do the fisheries, preferably a...

Local Government (Rates) Bill 2018: Second Stage (30 Jan 2019)

Michael Collins: I am sharing time with Deputy Michael Healy-Rae. I welcome some of the changes to the Local Government (Rates) Bill because it is vital that our local businesses are supported in a positive manner that will allow them to continue to operate. It is high time that we finally see this Government shake up its act and start taking steps to support hard-working, self-employed people running their...

National Surplus (Reserve Fund for Exceptional Contingencies) Bill 2018: Second Stage (Resumed) (30 Jan 2019)

Michael Collins: The Government has told us at length about the importance of the rainy day fund. It is more important to know exactly who will benefit from this fund when the time comes. The official statement on the Bill stated that a drawdown from the fund can be made if the Minister is satisfied on reasonable grounds, with evidence and expert analysis, that it is necessary in the event of a severe...

Juvenile Crime: Motion [Private Members] (30 Jan 2019)

Michael Collins: I am aware juvenile crime continues to be a major problem in Ireland. Roughly one in ten offences is committed by children. I say with my hand on my heart that in my constituency of west Cork youth crime is not the issue it is in other parts of the country. I do not shy away from the fact that in some towns and villages and various areas of west Cork, we have a certain level of youth...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (30 Jan 2019)

Michael Collins: On page 46 of A Programme for a Partnership Government, under road investment, the Government promised to increase the budget for local and regional roads by 50% in the years ahead. Almost three years after A Programme for a Partnership Government was commenced, the conditions of many of our local and regional roads are appalling. In west Cork, we are continuously fire-fighting with our...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (30 Jan 2019)

Michael Collins: Hear, hear.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (29 Jan 2019)

Michael Collins: Figures recently published by the EU show Ireland that, together with Slovakia, have the joint lowest rates for operations to remove cataracts. Both countries perform an average of two cataract operations per 1,000 individuals each year. In total, 4.5 million cataract operations were performed in the EU. The Irish College of Ophthalmologists which represents more than 200 eye doctors,...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (29 Jan 2019)

Michael Collins: What about cataract operations?

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (24 Jan 2019)

Michael Collins: Is the Tánaiste aware that smaller Irish fishing vessels have rights over only 13% of the national fish quota? Fishing quotas are very unequally distributed and traditional fishing families are being squeezed out. For example, in 2018 a tier 1 boat could fish 437 tonnes, but now, due to penalties imposed for exceeding the quota, the allowance for that boat has been reduced to 70...

Residential Tenancies (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2018: Second Stage (Resumed) (23 Jan 2019)

Michael Collins: There is no doubt that this Bill will have significant implications for landlords of residential properties. While I welcome the protection of tenants and I believe the Bill will give tenants more rights, I am afraid that the Bill is anti-landlord. I imagine that it is very hard for the Minister, Deputy Eoghan Murphy, to find a balance because I acknowledge that sometimes I would be on the...

Local Government Bill 2018: From the Seanad (23 Jan 2019)

Michael Collins: I will be brief because people already know my views on this issue. These amendments are very much based on Galway but circumstances similar to those in Galway exist in Cork city. I offer my full support to the public representatives in Galway and its surrounds because they know at first hand the effects this measure will have on their area. I can see what is going to happen in my...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (23 Jan 2019)

Michael Collins: On page 53 of the programme for Government it is stated the Government recognises the value of rural transport and will examine how best to improve rural bus network services in regions. Over Christmas and new year period hundreds of people vented their fury to me at how the Minister, Deputy Shane Ross, had been allowed by the Government, supported by Fianna Fáil and Sinn Féin, to...

National Broadband Plan: Motion [Private Members] (22 Jan 2019)

Michael Collins: I will start by citing an article from the website, thejournal.ie.Ireland really is in the dark ages, and rural Ireland even further behind that. No transportation links, no garda stations, terrible roads, [now no post offices and no pubs but, in particular] no broadband. All because of where you live. Rural people are forgotten about, because we obviously don’t matter. It saddens...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Joint Meeting of the Joint Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine and the Joint Committee on Rural and Community Development
Common Agricultural Policy: Discussion (22 Jan 2019)

Michael Collins: The discussions have been based mainly on the CAP programme. With many farmers' incomes under severe pressure currently, we need to protect the family farm. In recent years the way a number of CAP programmes have been rolled out has meant that in many cases farmers are forced out of their family farms to go to work. Is there anyone listening at all? I hope there is because I have a number...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Rural and Community Development: Joint Meeting of the Joint Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine and the Joint Committee on Rural and Community Development
Common Agricultural Policy: Discussion (22 Jan 2019)

Michael Collins: The discussions have been based mainly on the CAP programme. With many farmers' incomes under severe pressure currently, we need to protect the family farm. In recent years the way a number of CAP programmes have been rolled out has meant that in many cases farmers are forced out of their family farms to go to work. Is there anyone listening at all? I hope there is because I have a number...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (17 Jan 2019)

Michael Collins: Bring them back.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (17 Jan 2019)

Michael Collins: And fisherwomen.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (17 Jan 2019)

Michael Collins: I thank the Tánaiste for his reply. Irish fishermen face uncertain times in Irish waters due to Brexit. In the UK British Ministers and MPs are making it very clear that when Brexit kicks in, Irish fishermen are to be kicked out of UK waters. This is how they will protect their fishermen going forward. What will happen when other European vessels are put out of UK waters? The real...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (17 Jan 2019)

Michael Collins: Morale among Irish fishermen is at an all-time low. These hardworking men across the country have given blood, sweat and tears to their profession and have seen their every right eroded by successive Governments year after year, decade after decade. Fishermen have no faith in the political system. They feel strongly that there is no concession to be made in any negotiations with Europe and...